Grocery Shopping

​

Unfortunately, many foods are often made available to us in some sort of plastic packaging. Processed foods are an obvious culprit, but even produce sometimes comes wrapped in plastic. It can seem almost impossible to avoid! However, with mindful food choices, you can greatly reduce the amount of unnecessary plastic waste that you take home with your groceries.

​

 

Here are some strategies to avoid unnecessary plastic food packaging:

​

• Shop at farmer’s markets when possible

• Buy fresh produce instead of frozen

• Buy whole, loose produce items instead of those pre-cut and/or packaged in plastic (and don’t forget your re-usable produce bags!)

• Avoid processed or prepared foods (many tasty prepared foods, for example hummus and bliss balls, can be made at home!)

• Opt for juices, condiments, etc. that come in glass packaging

• Eat more beans and legumes (which can be purchased in bulk with reusable containers) instead of meat and soy products

• At the bakery, ask to use your own reusable bag for your bread! (This will work as long as you aren’t having it sliced, due to health regulations)

• Avoid shopping hungry to avoid impulse purchasing of packaged snacks

 

Plastic-free pro tip: re-use your glass containers to store food or other items, as drinking vessels, as vases, or however else you can think of!

 

 

Spicy Carrot Hummus (Prepared Plastic Waste Free!)

• 2 x 400ml cans of chickpeas, drained

• 3 cups of finely chopped carrot, raw (buy single carrots to avoid plastic!)

• 1 large garlic clove, chopped (heads of garlic are available individually without plastic)

• ½ cup tahini (buy in bulk with a mason jar from Bulk Barn)

• 6 tbsp lemon juice (use fresh lemon instead of from a plastic container)

• 1.5 tsp cumin, ½ tsp chili powder, salt and pepper to taste (all available at bulk stores)

• Add all ingredients to your blender, and blend until smooth!